American Immigrants Settle the Land

EFRAT – About a 20-minute drive
south of Jerusalem, stands the
Jewish settlement of Efrat, a biblical
name for Bethlehem revealed in
the famous prophecy about the birth of
the Messiah (Micah 5:2).

This sprawling
suburban community, which includes
villas and apartments with lush green
gardens, is located just a few kilometers
from the traditional birthplace of Jesus
in Palestinian-ruled Bethlehem.

Efrat is home to 8,500 people, mostly
Orthodox Jews from the “nationalreligious”
camp. Many are immigrants
from Western countries, including the
US, Britain and South Africa.